ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

(GSC 101)
CREDITS 4
L.T.P: 4 0 0
• Course objectives
-To familiarize the students with the environmental issues and identify
solutions.
-To trace the environmental issues to the idea of progress and to bring
fundamental changes in our attitude towards nature/environment.
Course Outcomes:
• Students will be able to relate the importance of environmental
sciences for sustainable development of society.
• Students will be able to apply principles of Environmental Sciences
in real life engineering Problems.

•Recommended Books:
•Miller G T and Spoolman (2012) Environmental Science, Cengage
learning pub
•Rajagopalan, R (2005) Environmental Studies, Oxford University
press
•Joseph, B (2005) Environmental Studies, Tata McGraw Hill Pub.
•Relevant BIS codes and Govt. of India Notifications
•Environmental Studies, Tata McGraw Pub. , Banny Joseph.
• Scheme of Evaluation:
• Mid term test = 30
• End term Exam = 40
• Quiz & Assignments = 10
• Term Paper/Projects = 20

• Grading Policy:
• Relative Grading (on the basis of rationalized marks) shall be
followed:

• Chamber Consultation: on prior appointment with the instructors

• Course Instructors
• Dr Siby John, Course coordinator, (Office Room near Traffic Eng Lab,
Civil Eng)
TERM PROJECT
Students are to identify a topic of their interest to prepare a term
project within the frame of the course of study in environmental
Sciences.
The important time frame
1. Submission of project proposal: A one page project proposal
highlighting the environmental issue addressed as part of the
project, the objectives of the project and proposed out comes.
(Due Date: 07 Feb 2019), weightage: 20%.
2. Interim project Report: An interim report covering the work done
shall be submitted by the students (Due Date: 13 Mar 2019),
weightage: 30%.
3. Final report and presentation: The final report and presentation
shall be evaluated for 50% weightage. (last week of the semester)
 INTRODUCTION

• Environmental science “The branch of science

concerned with physical, chemical and
biological conditions of the environment and
their effects on organisms”
• “It is the study of air , land , water and energy
systems in relation to life systems i.e study of
atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere in
relation to biology.
 IMPORTANCE
• The socio-economic development of any nation is
closely linked to its industrial progress , with the
energy sector being the major driving force.
• Sustainable development-without disrupting
environmental balance of nature : CHALLENGING
PROBLEM
• Industrial activity –ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION & HAZARDS TO LIVING
ORGANISMS.
• Multidisciplinary subject –physics, chemistry,
biology, geology ,metereorology, hydrology and many
other branches of physical and natural sciences.
Multidisciplinary Nature of
Environmental Studies
 Multidisciplinary Nature of
Environmental Studies
• Environment can be defined as the complex set
of physical, chemical, biological factors & social
factors in which a living organism or community
exists.
• This includes factors which operate like air, water,
land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans &
interrelationships.
• The branches of study here have included not
only environment but also other fields such as
Sociology, Psychology, Geography, Anthropology,
Medicine, Architecture and Planning etc.
 Multidisciplinary Nature of
Environmental Studies(cont..)
• Environmental interest in studying human behaviour
in the familiar, everyday physical environment
where people live and work as well as its relevance
to the environment design and social planning has
made it especially responsive to the demands of
today's world.
• All environmental Studies incorporate
appropriate

• Physical , chemical , biological and

mathematical techniques to analyze reaction
in the atmosphere
• Determine specific pollutant & their effects on
the environment
 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND CS

• Computer scientists have been playing an active

role in these tasks, working with environmental
scientists, oceanographers, hydrologists, and
urban planners.
• For example,
• Real time data collection and analysis.
• Deploying sensors.
• Managing big data sets.
• Drone/Satellite mapping.
 Environmental Science and Electrical
Engineering
• Environmental technology courses oriented
towards producing electronic or electrical
devices and artefacts able to monitor,
measure, model and control environmental
impact, including monitoring and managing
energy generation from renewable sources.
Environmental Science and Mechanical
Engineering
• Mechanical engineering courses oriented
towards designing machines and mechanical
systems for environmental use such as water
treatment facilities, pumping stations,
garbage segregation plants and other
mechanical facilities.
 Environmental Science and Civil
Engineering
• Environmental engineering or environmental
systems courses oriented towards a civil
engineering approach in which structures and the
landscape are constructed to blend with or
protect the environment.
• Civil engineers are particularly involved in such
activities as water supply and sewerage,
management of surface water and groundwater
quality, remediation of contaminated sites and
solid waste management.
 Environment science and chemistry
• Environmental chemistry or chemical engineering courses
oriented towards understanding the effects (good and bad)
of chemicals in the environment.
• Focus on mining processes, pollutants and commonly also
cover biochemical processes.
• Discover and design new processes to remove contaminants
or to change them to stable and non hazardous form.
 SCOPE

• As the concept of environment –widened

• The scope of environmental science enlarged to
include several disciplines

• Ecology
• Environmental biology
• Biogeochemistry
• Environmental Toxicology
• Environmental chemistry
• Ecology-Ecological principles are applied to
understand how organisms manage to survive
under combinations of ecological factors of the
environment under natural conditions

• Environmental biology –includes various

branches of environmental science

• Biogeochemistry-deals with the study of physical,

chemical and biological features of land in
relation with biosphere
• Environmental toxicology-Helps in understanding
the sources , fate and adverse effects of
potentially toxic chemicals on biosphere
• Environmental chemistry-provides the
information on nature of chemicals regarding
classification , speciation, mechanism of action
and the release in the environment.

• Environmental degradation-includes study of

pollution , toxic agents , desertification ,
deforestation or any other factor responsible for
environmental degradation.
• Environmental analysis-Study of the analysis of
the environment into its basic components like
atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and
biosphere

• Environmental monitoring-It focuses on the

regular and repeated observation of status of
chemical, physical and biological factors of
environment.

• Biodiversity conservation-It focuses on the

scientific methods of conservation &
management of natural resources and wildlife.
 NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS

• It is concerned with creating an awareness in

general public for environmental problems
around them through formal and informal
education.
• There is also dire need for the state to enact
laws and legislation in order to protect the
deterioration of quality of life and the
environment.